Page 7 of Roots of Redemption (Hicks Creek #4)

Chapter Four

Wade

I walk up to the weathered barn, where some of the ranch hands are chatting about the latest repairs on the fencing out by the south pasture.

Dust hangs in the air, kicked up by the horses milling around in the nearby corral.

None of them look too concerned about the situation we’re dealing with, but then again, they probably don’t realize they should be worried.

Internally, I’m starting to panic about things, but I have to remain calm and collected around everyone else. I can’t let these guys think I’m not in control or on top of the situation, even though I’m not.

My dad hasn’t seen an outbreak like this before, and that’s saying something as he’s been ranching for seventy years.

The cattle are our livelihood; with them getting sick and dropping like flies, it’s a problem.

We’re not the only ones with issues, though.

All the ranches in our small community are dealing with the same problems: cattle not wanting to eat, respiratory issues, and cattle dying in the field overnight with no real warning.

Callahan Ranch, my family ranch, is one of the biggest in Hicks Creek, which means if I’m starting to panic then the smaller ranches around us are probably close to bankruptcy and shutting down.

If we start losing ranches, the town is affected overall.

It’s a slippery slope, and things will go downhill fast.

“How many did we lose overnight?” I ask.

“Just a couple, but that brings us to fifteen head of cattle gone from this,” says Benny Malone, one of my ranch hands.

“It doesn’t sound like a big number,” I say gruffly, tallying the total again in my head.

“But it is,” Benny says as he shakes his head in disbelief. “I ain’t never seen anything like this, boss.”

“Me neither. We’ve quarantined all the sick ones, right? Nothing slipped through?” I ask.

“Yes, sir,” Benny says as he takes his cowboy hat off and scratches his head. “I done it myself. Even had Jared and Tommy take all their temperatures. If they were even one degree elevated, they were quarantined in a different pen than the ones showing symptoms.”

“That’s smart. I did some research and saw that a different antibiotic combo has worked for similar symptoms in the past. I’ll see if Doc Lucy can get us some. I made up clipboards for the different pens so we can keep the cattle separated by symptoms.”

“Speaking of nerd…Heard they called in some fancy doctor from Montana?” Jared Stallings adds as he shoots me a funny look. “Some doc that works in a lab or something.”

I roll my eyes. They can call me a nerd or make fun of me all they want, but this ranch is my livelihood, and there are too many people counting on me not to take this seriously.

“Montana? Why so far away? Wonder what kind of nerd they found?” Tommy Luckman interjects as he chuckles.

“Doc Lucy called her in. People are getting desperate because they’re losing their asses with dead cattle,” Jared says. “I went to pick up some more antibiotics at her clinic yesterday, and Old Man Geppert was screaming his head off at her.”

“Old Man Geppert screams at everyone,” Benny replies.

“We’ll get it under control,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “Doc Lucy’s supposed to stop by today. She’ll have a plan. I’ve been doing a lot of research, too.”

I haven’t slept since I went out to check the pasture a few weeks ago and found the first cow dead. There were no signs of an animal attack, no signs of anything out of the ordinary either. Something about it bothered me, though, and I started researching possible reasons.

The crunch of tires on gravel draws my attention. A familiar red truck pulls up, and sure enough, Doc Lucy climbs out, her clipboard in hand and her usual no-nonsense expression firmly in place. A silver Ford F-150 with Montana plates pulls in right behind her.

A gorgeous blonde standing five-two jumps down from the truck. She may be wearing coveralls and mud boots, but there’s no hiding those curves.

“I take back what I said about the nerd,” Tommy says quickly. “Is that the fancy doctor?”

“Definitely doesn’t look like a nerd to me,” Benny chuckles. “Holy shit, is that…?”

Sutton Bishop.

“Now it makes sense why they brought in someone from Montana—because she’s from Hicks Creek,” Benny continues.

I’d recognize her anywhere, even after all these years. The way she moves, the tilt of her chin, that same fire in her eyes. My body reacts before my brain catches up, my pulse quickening like I’m a damn teenager again.

I also remember how quickly she ran out of my place when she realized who I was, like I had the damn plague.

I had a moment of weakness and even reached out to her on social media, and she blocked me. There’s too much bad blood between our families anyway, but I was willing to look past that. I shouldn’t be surprised a Bishop would hold a grudge for that long, though. She’s just like her daddy.

I push off the barn, my boots kicking up dust as I walk toward them.

Doc Lucy spots me first and waves. “Wade! Just the man I need.” She reaches out to shake my hand, her grip firm as always. “I didn’t think you’d be here this morning. Got someone here you need to meet.”

“I decided to wait before going to the auction house for more cattle,” I tell her.

Sutton steps up beside her, looking me over like she’s sizing up a steer at auction. Her lips press into a thin line, and she doesn’t bother with a smile.

“Wade Callahan,” Doc says, gesturing between us. “Doctor Sutton Bishop. Sutton, Wade runs this place. Wade, Sutton’s one of the best bovine vets in the country. She’s been researching infectious diseases and coming up with the cures since she graduated from A&M as a vet.”

I nod, forcing myself to keep my tone civil. “Sutton.”

She crosses her arms, her voice cool. “Wade.”

Doc glances between us, clearly picking up on the tension but plowing ahead anyway.

“I forgot you two should know each other,” she chuckles and shakes her head.

“Sutton’s here to help with the outbreak.

She’s been consulting on cases like this for years now.

Remember they had a similar issue in Mississippi a few years back?

Sutton was the one who figured it out and ended the outbreak. She’s the best woman for this job.”

“Well, I’ll be,” Benny interjects. “That can’t be little Sutty Bishop.”

“I hate that name, Benny,” she says with a fake groan as he grabs her in a bear hug.

“Dang, Sutton, I didn’t recognize you,” Tommy adds.

Jared is suddenly mute as he just waves at her. Doc Lucy is eyeing me carefully.

I raise an eyebrow, letting my skepticism show. “Didn’t think you’d be interested in ranch work anymore, Sutton. Last I heard, you’d turned your back on it. Do you even know what a cow looks like anymore? Can’t imagine you’ve seen much of them in your fancy office.”

Her eyes narrow, and she fires back without missing a beat. “I certainly remember what a jackass looks like.” She takes a long pause, looking me up and down slowly before she continues. “And last I heard, your family still thinks they’re the kings of the county. Guess some things never change.”

Jared snickers but covers it with a cough. My jaw tightens.

“Just because—”

“Sutton’s here because she’s the best, and you need her expertise if you want to save your herd. She didn’t have to come home for it. Lord knows she wouldn’t have wanted to come back and deal with you cantankerous ranchers. Don’t make her regret it.”

Sutton smirks, crossing her arms. “From what Doc Lucy says, you and my dad have been hit the worst. But if you’d rather let your pride get in the way, I can leave. Plenty of other ranchers would appreciate the help.”

Her tone sets my teeth on edge, but before I can decide whether to snap back or let it go, Caleb’s voice cuts through the tension.

“Dad?” My fifteen-year-old son jogs up, his lanky frame already catching up to mine. He stops short, glancing between us. “Who’s this?”

Sutton’s demeanor shifts instantly. The sharp edge in her expression softens, and she looks him directly in the eye. “I’m Doctor Sutton Bishop. I’m here to help with the bovine outbreak. What’s your name?”

“Mr. Frank’s daughter? I’m Caleb.” He grins. “Nice to meet you. I can take you to them.”

He makes a wide gesture with his arm before turning toward the pasture. Sutton follows him without hesitation, their conversation fading as they head toward the herd. Something about the way she shifts so easily from sharp to kind leaves me standing there, watching her go.

Doc Lucy nudges me with her clipboard, a knowing look on her face. “Well, that was something. I guess I should’ve realized the two of you would share your father’s ridiculous beef.”

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Wade Callahan stumble in front of a woman,” Benny teases. “They usually can’t drop their panties fast enough for him.”

“Old man is losing his touch,” Tommy laughs.

Benny pulls back and hits him in the back of the head.

“Watch your use of the world, old man, kid,” he warns playfully.

Tommy rubs the back of his head before he follows the others out to the pasture.

I shake my head and watch Sutton and Caleb interact. She’s laughing at something he said, and for a moment, I see a glimpse of the girl I used to know—the one who loved this land as much as I do.

There was a time when I would describe her as loyal to a fault.

I watched from afar as she sacrificed a social life in high school to help out on her father’s ranch.

It was expected of her, and she fulfilled that duty in the highest sense.

She went halfway across the country for school, though, and never looked back.

That loyal, carefree girl seems to be long gone, and she seems to be chasing money and prestige now.

If those weren’t her intentions, she would be back in Hicks Creek full time helping her daddy and the rest of the ranching community with her knowledge.